Distilling apparatus of the continuous production type



March 29, 1955 s. CANICOBA 2,705,218

DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE Filed Jan. 18, 1951.

6 4 Sheets-Sheet l 55 35 Q a .1 I 9 w W I 69 x l 12 5/ 89 I 1 5 I J 92 k INVENTOR.

March 29, 1955 s. CANICOBA 2,705,218

DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE Filed Jan. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 {Jr g? 92 92 95 mmvroze.

March 29, 1955 DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE Filed Jan. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENT 01?.

5/701. CW/V/ COB/7,

s. CANICOBA 2,705,218

March 29, 1955 s. CANICOBA 2,705,218 DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE Filed Jan. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENT 0R.

5/70L ClW/COBIQ,

YiLRQW United States Patent 7 DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE Saul Canicoba, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application January 18, 1951, Serial No. 206,698 11 Claims. (Cl. 202185) This invention refers to improvements in distilling apparatus and more particularly it relates to a new water still of the continuous production type.

The known stills of the type herein concerned mainly comprise a boiler provided with a heating means fixed thereto, a condenser partially housed in said boiler and provided with means for-collecting the steam produced by said boiler. The condenser is generally made oi'a metal pipe and the part emerging out of the boiler is surrounded by a jacket into which water is introduced for cooling purposes, said water being then conducted into the boiler for distilling purposes. The length of the condenser tube is in direct relationship with the speed of flow of the water in the jacket so that said water will usually enter into'the boiler at a temperature which is near the boiling point. I

It will be appreciated that any change in the flow rate,

which often happens due to pressure variations in the source of fluid, will act immediately on the production eificiency of the still because the water will enter at a different temperature in the boiler.

Another drawback-resides in the fact that by using metal pipes in order to obtain a high heat interchanging coefficient, the distilled water contains usually certain metal salts which must be eliminated later on.

The heating means above referred to is generally made of a suitable insulated electrical resistance fixed to said boiler and in contact with the water, the terminals of said resistance emerging out of the boiler. Said resist ance has a relatively short life, mostly due to short circuits, so that upon such a failure the whole equipment must be stopped, cooled and dismounted in order to replace the resistance by a new one.

The apparatus hereinafter described has overcome all the drawbacks pointed out above and provides at the same time several further advantages which will be apparent in the course of the following description.

In order to assure a constant production efiiciency of the apparatus of this invention a constant flow device is provided which controls the fiow of the cooling water through the jacket. Said constant flow device is furthermore provided with means for controlling the heating means, so that when the water supplyfalls below a predetermined limit, the electrical current supply to the heating means is interrupted.

The heatingmeans is of a special structure and so arranged in the boiler that upon any failure of the former it can be quickly replaced by a new one without requiring all the operations previously pointed out.

The condenser tube is preferably made of thin glass in order to obtain the highest possible heat exchanging coefiicient and at the same time substantially to prevent the appearance of anytrace of metal salts in the resulting distilled water.

Moreover it has been found that by using the still of thisinvention the purity of the water obtained by a single distillation corresponds to that of an ordinary doubly distilled water. It is not quite clear why such a favorable result is obtained but it seems that the arrangement of the diiferent parts and the very even functioning of the apparatus are the basis therefor.

From the abovediscussion, it can be appreciated that enact the objects of the present invention is to provide a new still of the continuous production type wherein a constant flow device for the water supply exists, so that a high production efliciency is assured.

Another object is to provide a constant flow device for the'still of this invention which is furthermore provided with means for controlling the electric circuit of the heating means arranged in the boiler of the still.

to provide a jacketfor the con- Another object is to so arranged ina metal acket that the unequalrlengthem mg due to variation in heat of the glass condenser and metal jacket will not produce any ance so arranged, that itcan be used for two phase and three-phase current without requiring any modification the apparatus with the exception of one wire con in nection which operation represents no difliculty. I

These and further objectsand advantages will become clear in the course of the following description in which? Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1, of the larger scale.

Fig.

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of Fig. 6 is a front elevation of trical terminals of the heating means.-

Fig. 7 represents the electrical circuit of'the heating means in parallel arrangement.

the heating means.

Fig. 8 represents the electrical circuit of the heating means in a series arrangement.

As may be seen in 2, in thisp'articular instance at a corner and wall 3 sup-' ports a cock 4 connected to a source of water, anda sink 5 fordischarging the water surplus. Wall Z'is current.

The still 1 comprises a constant flow device'7, a' con-.

stant level and metal jacket 14 are visible in Fig. 1.

The constant flow device 7 4 by means of a flexible tube 15 and metal duct 16 de-. livers the coohng water from the constant flow device 7 feeding chamber 21 and a surplus discharge chamber 22..

- The constant flow feeding chamber 21 is limitedby par- Patented Mar. 29, 1955 provide a glass condensing tube of their being connected together;

constant flow device on a" Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line I V-IV of i the head with the elec-' Fig. 1 the still 1 is supported by wall provided witha plug connected to a source of electric 12 surrounds a condenserj tube of which only the lower ei1d13, and the upper end' of boiler 9 with dis supply to the electric heat-.

tition walls constituting weirs 23 and 24 of equal height but smaller than the contour Wall 25 which defines the outer chambers and 22 as Well as the constant flow device 7 per se. Said contour wall is provided with supporting ears 26 which enable the constant flow device 7 to be fastened by means of screws 27 to fixing plate 28 (see also Fig. l) forming part of the constant level and discharge device 8 which supports the whole still and to which end holes 115 are provided for fastening the still to wall 2.

A nipple 29 arranged near the base of water admission chamber 29 provides the necessary connecting means between said water admission chamber 20 and cock 4 by means of flexible tube 15 (see also Fig. l).

The constant flow feeding chamber is connected through a suitable coupling 30 arranged at the base of said chamber to metal duct 16. A float 31 is slidably housed in said constant flow feeding chamber 21 and provided with an upwardly emerging stem 32 connected to means 19 for controlling the current supply to the electric heating means 11 as already previously stated, and which means 19 will be later explained. The float 31 is of the cylindrical type and therefore, as can better be understood from Fig. 4, the water which is delivered to water ad mission chamber 20, can easily penetrate into the constant flow feeding chamber 21 upon overflowing the upper end of partition wall 23 by passing through spaces 33 existing between the side wall of float 31 and the wall of said constant flow feeding chamber 21.

The surplus discharge chamber 22 arranged adjacent to the constant flow feeding chamber has a base with a bore in which a discharge conduit 34 is mounted the free end of which is directed towards discharge device 8 as can be seen in Fig. 2.

From the preceding description the functioning of the constant level device 7 can already be conceived. In fact, Water supplied from the source through cock 4, flexible tube 15 and nipple 29 will enter the lower part of water admission chamber 20 and the air bubbles will immediately rise whilst the water level itself will rise more slowly until it reaches the upper free end of partition wall 23 and when it reaches said upper end, the water will overflow in a relatively steady manner so that upon entering into constant flow feeding chamber 21 through spaces 33 very little disturbance exists. The water supply should be a little larger than the normal water discharge through metal duct 16 so that float 31 is substantially maintained in the position shown in Fig. 3. Under normal conditions a constant flow is thereby ensured and at the same time a constant pressure, be-

cause the height of the water column in the constant flow feeding chamber is maintained constant. The surplus of water passes to surplus discharge chamber 22 where it will be discharged through discharge conduit 34. In

order to facilitate the understanding, several arrows show the flow direction of the water. If the water supply 15 increased no effect will be noticed in the constant flow of the water passing through metal duct 16, but merely an increase of water in the discharge conduit 34 will exist, so that nothing will be modified with regard to the normal functioning of the still from this View-point. On the other hand if the water supply decreases to such an extent that the pressure of the water column existing in the constant flow feeding chamber 21, varies substandaily with respect to the normal functioning of this still,-

then automatically the electric current supply is inter rupted by means of float 31 which obviously will descend in the constant flow feeding chamber 21 and thereby operate on means 19 for controlling the electric circuit, which means 19 will now be described.

' A plate 35 of insulating material is supported by projecting ribs 36 and screws 37. On said plate 35 a mercury switch 38 is arranged which consists of an L-shaped support 39, swingable about pivot 40 and supporting a glass bulb 41 by means of clamps 42. Said glass bulb 41 is partially filled with mercury and is provided in its interior with two platinum rings 43 and 44 separated from each other and provided with connecting wires passing through said bulbv 41 to the exterior where the ends of said wires are connected to insulated wires 45 and 46, respectively, the other ends of which are fixed to binding screws 47 and 48, respectively. A stop 49 for support 39 is also provided in order to limit the upward movement of float 31, and prevent at the same time that the float 31 can leave chamber 21.

The operation of the mercury switch 38 is quite simple since the mercury contained in bulb 41 is capable of establishing a conducting bridge between platinum rings 43 and 44-, when float 31 is in the upper portion of the constant flow feeding chamber 21. When float 31 moves downwardly the mercury in the bulk 41 will displace itself towards the end adjacent to stem 32 and thereby destroys the conducting bridge between platinum rings 43 and 44, whereby the circuit is interrupted.

The insulating plate 35 is furthermore provided with binding screws 51) and 51. A bridge 52 connects on the rear face binding screws 47 and 51. Binding screws and 51 are connected to plug 6 (see Fig. 1) through twin cable 53. Insulated wires 54 and 55 are connected respectively to binding screws 48 and 50 and feed the current to the electric heating means 11 as will be later more detailed explained.

As may be best seen in Fig. 2 the still 1 itself consists of a cup shaped outer carcase 56 having a central open ng 57. Said carcase 56 constitutes a support for an inner container 53 having a flange 59 gripped around the upper circular edge of outer carcase 56. Outer carcase 56 and inner container 58 constitute the boiler 9. The inner container 58 is conveniently formed of two pieces riveted and welded together at the bottom part as can be appreciated in the figure. A circular bulge 60 constitutes a supporting platform for cover 19 formed of a cylinder 61. with a base ring 62 resting on said bulge 6t and provided at its upper end portion with a support 63 for a glass cupola 64 fastened to the cylinder 61 begweegr; the support 63 and the upper rim 65 of said cylin- The inner container 58 has a central opening coaxial with central opening 57 and provided with a rubber sealing and supporting ring. 66 through which condenser 67 passes.

The constant level and discharge device 8 which is usually a casting has'to be the most robust part because it actually supports the complete apparatus. The fixing plate 28 constitutes the back wall of discharge chamber 68 in alinement with surplus discharge chamber 22 of the constant flow device 7.

The base of the discharge chamber 68 is provided with a discharge duct 69 connected to flexible tube 70 which leads the surplus water to waste for example to sink 5 (see Fig. l). Conduit 17 which connects the inside of inner container 58 with discharge chamber 68 enables the water existing in said container 58 to be discharged when the still is not to be used. Discharge valve 18 suit-I ably controls said duct 17.

One side of the discharge chamber 68 is defined by a;

weir 71 forming with wall 72 the leveling chamber 73, the base of which forms part of an interconnecting duct 74 the other end of which is connected to a cylindrical body forming preheating chamber 75 coaxially arranged with central opening 57 and rubber sealing and supporting ring 66. Said preheating chamber 75 is in communication with atmosphere through channel 94 and central opening 57. The condenser tube also passes through said preheating chamber 75. The broken line 76 indicates the water level which will exist in the preheating chamber 75 and inner container 58 during normal operation due to the weir 7 1 connected to preheating chamber 75 through interconnecting duct 74. Adjacent to and underncath level 76 a bore 77 connects said preheating chain? her 7 5 with the inner container 58.

interconnecting duct 74 15 provided with several cars 78 for fixing, bymeans of screws, both the inner con tainer 58 as well as the outer carcase 56 to said inter-' connecting duct 74, which is the main support for boiler 9.

in order to give the assembly a greater rigidity, outer wall 72 is connected to carcase 56 by plates 79 (see also Fig. l)

The cylindrical body of preheating chamber 75 sup-- ports at its lower end, metal jacket 12 which is screwed into said cylindrical body. The lower end of said metal jacket 12 is provided with a cup shaped member 80 having a central opening, and two projections 89 on which tension springs 90 are fastened.

Condenser tube 67 is housed partially in said metal jacket 12 and supported by conical rubber plug 81 at.

the lower end portion and rubber sealing and supporting ring 66 at the upper portion. V The condenser tube67 comprises at its upper end,

which is housed in the steam containing chamber formed by the boiler 9 and the sealing cover 10, an outer cup shaped member 82 the base of which is provided with a draining tube 83 and-an inner inverted cup shaped member 84, concentric with the outer cup shaped member 82 and supported in spaced relationship by means of spacing rods 85. The inner inverted cup shaped member 84 has a dome .base and is spaced away from the cylindrical steam collecting duct 86. The arrangement 80, 82-86 described, constitutes an improved steam trap. In fact the steam produced-by the boiler, which will be later explained, enters through the upper open end into the outer cup shaped member 82 and any water drops which have been entrained will be returned to the boiler through draining tube 83 when the steam changes its direction of fiow. However, it sometimes happens that certain water particles are not eliminated by this first sudden change of direction of flow, and a condensate in the form of water drops can be noticed on the base of the inverted cup member 84. In view of the fact-that said base is dome shaped, the condensate willfind its way back to the outer cup member 82 and draining tube 83. In the steam traps formerly used the base or bottom of the inverted cup shaped member was flat and thereby some of the condensate or-water drops-dropped into the condensing tube and thus the quality of the distilled water was changed.

The steam collecting duct 86 merges into a second duct portion 87 of larger diameter which portion is arranged in the preheating chamber 75. The steam which penetrates into the steam collecting duct 86 has practically not lost any of itslatent heat when entering into. the second duct portion 87 because the cylindrical steam.

collecting duct 86 is surrounded by steam. As will be later explained, this latent heat existing in the steam when passing through the second duct portion is used in the preheating chamber 75 for raising the temperature of the cooling water substantially up to the boiling point.

The condensing tube 67 consists furthermore of interconnected sphere shaped portions 88 which should be made as thin as possible'in orderto increase the heat exchanging coefficient between the condensing steam passing downwardly through condenser tube 67 and the cooling water rising in metal jacket 12 as will be further on explained. The sphere shaped portions 88 provide the largest contact surface possible in a given space so that by adopting this shape the heat exchanging coefficient is also increased.

The lower end 13 of condenser tube 67 is of frustoconical shape the larger base corresponding tothe free end 13 of the condenser tube. 81 mounted on the lower end 13 of the condenser tube is an inversely conical plug, with regard to the frustoconical shape of the lower end 13, whereby a self-fastening action between the cup shaped member 80 of the metal jacket 12 and the condenser tube 67 is obtained. In fact,

if due to variation in temperature a difference in elon-' gation between the metal jacket 12 and the condenser tube 67 is produced, condenser tube 67 tends to move upwardly or decrease its length with regard to-.the metal' parts, thereby pressing rubber plug 81 against opening of cup shaped member 80. The relative movementof the condenser tube 67 is performed atthe upper end or' in other words rubber sealing andsupporting ring 66 will permit a slight displacement of condenser tube 67 with regard to the metallic parts.

The lower end 13 of condenser tube 67 is conveniently connected to a delivering tube 91 having a corresponding frusto-conical upper end to fit into the lower end 13 of container tube 67. It is furthermore provided with two projections 92 to which the springs 90 are fastened in order to maintain the delivery tube 91 in its proper position. A cover 93 is integral with the delivery tube 91 in order to prevent strange particles from enter-ing intothe flask or tank into which the delivery tube discharges the condensate, and also to avoid that water spilling over from the boiler, which will'be later explained, enter the fias The electric heating means 11, see Figs. 5, 6 and also Fig. 2, consists of a hollow metal case 95 having at its lower end connected thereto two helical tubes 96 and 97 which form a cylindrical body. The hollow metal case 95 has a circular projection 98 provided with a screw thread 99 on which two rings 100 and 101 are'threaded (see Fig. 1). The cylinder 61 is provided with a suitable opening through which projection 98 may pass and-rings 100 The conical rubber plugand 101 are designed to clamp therebetween a corresponding portion of the cylinder 61 to fasten the heating means-11 thereto and situate it in the boiler. In order to seal the opening wherein the circular projecton 98 of the hollow metal case is mounted, a packing ring or the like (not shown) is mounted therebetween.

The helical-tubes 96 and 97 are so arranged that when the-heating means 11 is mounted in the boiler they are concentrical with the condensing tube 67. The height of the heatingmeans 11 should be so designed that the lowest portion of helical tube 96 is situated adjacent the bottom of the inner container 58 but substantially not in contact therewith and the uppermost portion of helical tube 97 is not above the rubber sealing and supporting ring 66 or even better above level 76. In the hollow case 95 and helical tube 96 connected thereto an electrical resistance 102 is arranged which is surrounded by refractory material 103. Similarly an electrical resistance 104 is arranged in metal case 95 and helical tube 97. The electrical resistance 102 has two terminals 105 and 106 (see Figs. 6 to 8) which project out of projection 98 and are fastened to binding screws 107 and 108 respectively,-which binding screws are partially embedded in the refractory material 103; similarly, resistance 104 has'outwardly' projecting terminals 109 and 110, which are fastened to binding screws 111 and 108, respectively. A bridge. 112 (Figs. 6 and 7) connects terminal 105 to 109 through binding screws 107 and 111. Insulated wires 54 and 55 connect the electrical resistances with the mercury switch 38.

As may be seen in the electrical circuit diagrams of Figs. 7'and 8 the connections may be carried out in two manners. The arrangement of Fig. 7 corresponds to that shown in the remaining drawingsor in other words electrical resistances 102 and 104 are parallel. power supply source 113 is connected to the apparatus through twin cable 53 one wire of which is connected to binding screw 50 whilst the other is connected to binding screw 51. The electric current flow is as'follows: power supply source 113 through conduit 53 to binding screw only necessary to eliminate bridge 112 by loosening binding screws 107 and 111 (see Fig. 6), thereby the series arrangement is obtained which operates as follows: from power supply source 113 to conduit 53, binding screw 51, bridge 52, binding screw.- 47, wire 45, platinum ring 43, mercury bridge, platinum ring 44, wire 46, binding screw 48, wire 54, binding screw 111, resistance 104,

binding screw- 108, resistance 102, binding screw 107, wire 55, binding screw 50 and back to the supply source 113 through the other wire of twin cable 53.

In view of. the fact that the several parts integrating the still of this invention have already been-described individually both with respect to structure as well as to function, the operating and functioning of the still as a whole will be readily understood, by the following brief description.

Water is supplied through cock 4, flexible tube 15 to the constant flow device 7 which once in normal operation by means of the means 19 for controlling the electric circuit will close the latter and thereby supply electric current to the resistances 102 and 104 whilst water enters through metal duct 16 into metal jacket 12 passing through bore 77 into inner container 58 wherein steam is generated. The steam is collected by the cylindrical steam collecting duct 86, previously passing through thecorresponding steam trap and said steam will descend through the condensing tube 67 wherein it will be con-, The condensation takes place. in the sphere shape portions 88.

densed and discharged through delivery tube 91.

by heat interchange between the cooling water rising in metal jacket 12 and the condensing steam descending in condensing tube 67. It will thereby be understood that the cooling water which enters at the bottom portion into a metal jacket 12 will-at that height be practically at 75 F. and the condensate in the condenser 67 at that height In fact, thewill have prac ically th me or a slightly high r emperature. The higher the cooling water 'rises in the metal jacket 12, the higher its temperature will be. Similar consideration are applicable to the condensate.

It is obvious that a greater amount of cooling water is necessary than steam is produced in the boiler, so that the surplus of cooling water must be eliminated. To this effect interconnecting duct 74, communicates the preheating chamber 75 at the lower end thereof with the constant level and discharge device 8 through leveling chamber 73. Thereby a constant level is obtained both in the preheating chamber and in the inner container 58 and water will only pass into the inner container 58 in the same measure as steam is evacuated through corn denser 67. in view of the fact that the water will remain a certain time in the preheating chamber, its tempera? ture will almost rise to 212 F. because as already pre viously explained, the steam passing through the second duct portion 87 has not as yet transferred any ofits latent heat.

This preheating chamber eliminates alsothe gases and air bubbles existing in the cooling water there stationed, because upon heating the water up to practically the boiling point, the air and gases will rise and pass through channel 94 and central opening 57 to the atmosphere. Thereby the water which enters into the boiler is practicaily free of gases and air and thus a first purification has already taken place.

it is possible that in the preheating chamber together with the air and gases which exit through channel 9.4 f

and central opening 57, a certain amount of water overspills which will then run along the outer surface of metal jacket 12. in order to avoid that said water enter into the collector of the distilled water, a cover 93, as already previously explained, is integral with delivery tube 91.

it is obvious that it a short circuit exists in the resistance it is only necessary to dismount the sealing cover 10 by loosening screws 114 (only one being visible in Fig. l) and unscrewing ring 1% to be able to interchange the heating means 11 for a new one and thereafter again zoom the sealing cover lit on the rest of the apparatus without requiring practically any interruption of the functioning of the still.

It is obvious that the most important feature concerning the heating means 11 is that they are supported by the sealing cover it and instead of mounting the assembly on the cylindrical body 61 it could be as well fixed to the glass cupola 64, for instance.

The water existing in the boiler at the level indicated by dotted tween the inner container 53 and the cylindrical body 61 and thereby a perfect closure is assured.

if the electric resistances 192 and H34 are damaged, such as by a short circuit, obviously the steam production will stop and consequently no distilled water will be discharged by delivery tube 91. The cooling water will run through the surplus flow circuit, or in other words the water delivered by cock 4 will pass through flexible tube 15, constant llow device 7, metal duct 16, metal jacket 12, interconnecting duct 7d, leveling chamber 73, weir 7i, discharge chamber 68, discharge duct 5?, flexible tube 7%, to sink 5.

vvlten the operator notices that no distilled water is discharged by delivery tube 91 he should first check if the water supply is interrupted, by observing the position of mercury switch 38 and stem 32. It? the water supply is normal then the resistances 1G2 and 194 must be darnaged which however he can test in the manner known to those skilled in the art. The replacement of the electric heating means 11 has already been explained.

The fact that metal case 95 is situated above water level line 76 represents several advantages over the heating means used in the apparatus known in the art. in fact the welding between tubes 6 and 97 and the button; part. of metal case 95 is situated above the water level whilst the welding of the tube in the known apparatus is beneath the water level and therefore pores which may be present in the welding and which are emporarily covered by borax, for instance, which is gradually washed out, will permit the entrance of water and thereby pro duce a short circuit.

Another advantage of the structure as described resides in the fact that terminals 3&5, 96. 169 and 1,310 as well as binding screws 167. 1.98 and .111 are above water l v l so that a y erssii W111 h t wet the contacts line 76 provides also a hydraulic sealing bet ing a boiler adapted to house vforward cooling and distilling water at nd anno P od e hort ci cui as h ppens in he no dyices wher in u ua ly s d t mi als and ind ng screws are situated below the. water level.

I cl i A dis illing appa us o h contin ou pro uc on ype ha ing a boi er ith n op nin a onde ser pass ns h u said open ng a d pa ti l y en ring a oi e and part al y Prot ing cut of id o e a j ck t su rounding a pa of sa d conden e r rciec i g ou of sai o le aid ja ket v ng a. low r en pc n, a con tant ow d v ce pen to atmo ph re or Prcv d s a nif rm flow of wa er t mo ph ric pre ure rom a s urce of water to said lower end portion of said jacket, said constant flow devi e b ing l a ed a v s id b iler, a c stant level and discharge device spaced away from said jacket in he t insulating r lat o hip wi h aid lc liet and said boiler, said jacket having an outlet opening in said boiler, duct means interconnecting said constant level and discharge device to said jacket at a location spa ed from said outlet opening whereby excess water is 115- charged at a substantially lower temperature than the water issuing into said boiler, an electric heating means detachably mounted in said boiler and connected to said means for Controlling the water supply governed by said constant device, said constant flow device having a discharge conduit for discharging Water surplus, said discharge conduit being directed towards that constant level and discharge device.

2. A water still or the continuous production type haw water at a certain level and a cover, said cover being detachably mounted on said boiler, electric heating means for heating said boiler and dctachably supported by said cover, said boiler being in communication with atmosphere and with a constant level and discharge device, a condenser having an upper end portion and a lower portion partially housed in said boiler for collecting steam produced by said boiler and partially emerging out of said boiler, 21 preheating chantber having a bottom portion and surrounding the upper end portion of said condenser, the bottom portion of said chamber being connected to said discharge device through an interconnecting duct whereby said discharge device is spaced apart from said preheating chamber tn-heat insulating relationship, a jacket connected to said preheating chamber and surrounding the lower portion of said corn denser, said jacket having a lower portion, a constant flow device including a constant fiow 'feeding'chamber open to atmosphere and located above the water level of said boiler, said constant flow device being adapted to atmospheric pressure with uniform flow to said lower portion of said jacket, means for controlling said electric heating means governed by said constant flow feeding chamber and means for collecting distilled water from said condenser.

3. A water still oi the continuous production type having a boiler, electric heating means for heating said boiler,

a preheating chamber located in the bottom portion of said boiler, said preheating chamber having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a bore connecting said upper end portion with said boiler, said lower end por-v tion extending through the bottom of said boiler and supporting an elongated elongated glass condenser supported within and coaxial with said jacket, a constant flow device open to atmos: phere supplying a uniform flow of water to. the lower end of said jacket, said condenser comprising a plurality of interconnected. relatively thin walled sphere-shaped portions of uniform thinness located along the length of: said jacket to provide a large Contact surface for exchange with said water, a duct portion connected to the upper end of said sphere-shaped portions located in and substantially co-extcnsive with said preheating chamher, and a steam trap arrangement connected to said duct portion an a constant level and discharge device spaced away in heat insulating relationship from said boiler, duct means con" ce ime h downwardly extending jacket, an

heat 7 located above said upper end portion of said preheating chamber and in the upper part of said boiler,

a pr heating V hou ed in battena jacket surrounding said condenser and having an upper outlet end in said boiler and a lower part out of said boiler, a constant flow device open to atmosphere and connected to said lower part for providing a uniform flow of water through said jacket to said boiler, means supplying fluid to be distilled at atmospheric pressure to said constant flow device, a constant level and discharge device spaced away in heat insulating relationship from said boiler, duct means connecting said jacket below its outlet opening to said constant level and discharge device to discharge excess water at a substantially lower temperature than the water issuing into said boiler, said boiler being provided with electric heating means detachably mounted in said boiler and controlled by said constant flow device.

5. A distilling apparatus of the continuous production type having a boiler comprising an outer carcase and an inner container, said outer carcase having a bottom portion and a central opening therein and an upper circular edge, said inner container being joined to said outer carcase around the upper circular edge thereof, a bottom portion spaced away from the bottom portion of the outer carcase and a central opening coaxial with said central opening in said outer carcase, a cover for said boiler, an electric heating means detachably fastened to said cover and normally disposed in said inner container, a preheating chamber arranged within said outer carcase and said inner container and between said central opening of said outer carcase and said central opening of said inner container and coaxial therewith, said preheating chamber having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said upper end portion being in communication with said central opening of said outer carcase, a bore connecting said upper end portion of said preheating chamber with the inner container, said lower end portion supporting a jacket and being connected in heat insulating relationship to a constant level and discharge device through an interconnecting duct, said interconnecting duct constituting a supporting means for supporting said boiler by means of said constant level and discharge device, a constant flow device including a constant flow feeding chamber open to atmosphere, said constant flow being supported by said constant level and discharge device and provided with power supply controlling means partially housed in said constant flow feeding chamber and controlled by the water level in said constant flow feeding chamber for controlling said heating means, said constant flow device being connected to a source of water, a duct connecting said constant flow device with the lower end portion of said jacket, and a condenser supported by the lower end portion of said jacket and said central opening of said inner container.

6. A distilling apparatus of the continuous production type as claimed in claim 5, wherein a conduit provided with a discharge valve connects said inner container with said discharge chamber of said constant level and discharge device. 7

7. A distilling apparatus of the continuous production type as claimed in claim 5, wherein said heating means in said inner container is concentrically arranged with regard to said preheating chamber.

8. A distilling apparatus of the continuous production type as claimed in claim 5, said constant level and discharge device comprising, a levelling chamber connected to said interconnecting duct and a discharge chamber separated from said levelling chamber by means of a weir havingan upper end situated above said bore and below the upper end of said preheating chamber.

9. A glass condenser for use in distilling apparatus of the continuous production type comprising, a steam trap, a cylindrical steam collecting duct supporting said steam trap, said cylindrical steam collecting duct being integral with a second duct portion below said cylindrical steam collecting duct, a plurality of interconnected relatively thin walled sphere-shaped portions of uniform thinness connected to said second duct portion, said sphere-shaped portions forming the lower end of said condenser.

10. A glass condenser for a water still of the continuous production type comprising a steam trap formed of a cup-shape member having a base portion and an upper rim, a steam collecting tube passing through said base portion and entering into said cup-shape member, a draining tube fixed to said base portion of said cupshape member, an inverted cup-shape member of smaller diameter than said first cup-shape member partially housed in said first cup-shape member and having a dome shape base provided with at least two spacing rods supporting said inverted cup-shape member and being integral with said upper rim of said first cup-shape member, said spacing rods maintaining said'inverted cup-shape member in spaced relationship with regard to said first cup-shape member and with regard to said steam collecting tube, said steam collecting tube having a lower end integral with a second cylindrical portion of larger diameter than said steam collecting tube, said second cylindrical portion having also a lower end which is integral with a plurality of sphere shape portions coaxially in alignment, said sphere shape portions being directly continuous and a delivering end connected to the end sphere shape portion remote from said second cylindrical portion, said plurality defined by a continuous wall of glass, said wall being relatively thin and of substantially the same thinness throughout its length.

11. A glass condenser for a water still of the continuous production type comprising a steam trap having a steam collecting tube, a plurality of sphere shape portions of uniform thinness, said plurality of sphere shape portions beingdirectly contiguous, said uniform thinness being substantially constant also where two contiguous sphere shape portions are contacting each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,488 Rund May 2, 1893 530,015 Chase Nov. 27, 1894 552,688 Jewell Jan. 6, 1896 633,851 Kemp Sept. 26, 1899 771,832 Rochlitz Oct. 11, 1904 861,485 Stokes July 30, 1907 923,957 Edelen June 8, 1909 1,317,363 Bajda Sept. 30, 1919 1,404,971 Kells Jan. 31, 1922 1,635,112 Carlson et al July 5, 1927 1,864,021 Jack June 21, 1932 2,203,925 Poirier June 11, 1940 2,217,266 Cookson Oct. 8, 1940 2,240,952 Hetzer May 6, 1941 2,425,669 Brock Aug. 12, 1947 2,537,942 Martin Jan. 9, 1951 of sphere shape portions being' 

1. A DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE HAVING A BOILER WITH AN OPENING, A CONDENSER PASSING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND PARTIALLY ENTERING SAID BOILER AND PARTIALLY PROJECTING OUT OF SAID BOILER, A JACKET SURROUNDING A PART OF SAID CONDENSER PROJECTING OUT OF SAID BOILER, SAID JACKET HAVING A LOWER END PORTION, A CONSTANT FLOW DEVICE OPEN TO ATMOSPHERE FOR PROVIDING A UNIFORM FLWO OF WATER AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE FORM A SOURCE OF WATER TO SAID LOWER END PORTION OF SAID JACKET, SAID CONSTANT FLOW DEVICE BEING LOCATED ABOVE SAID BOILER, A CONSTANT LEVEL AND DISCHARGE DEVICE SPACED AWAY FROM SAID JACKET IN HEAT INSULATING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID JACKET AND SAID BOILER, SAID JACKET HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING IN SAID BOILER, DUCT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CONSTANT LEVEL AND DISCHARGE DEVICE TO SAID JACKET AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM SAID OUTLET OPENING WHEREBY EXCESS WATER DISCHARGED AT A SUBSTANTILLY LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN THE WATER ISSUING INTO SAID BOILER, AND ELECTRIC HEATING MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BOILER, AND CONNECTED SAID MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE WATER SUPPLY GOVERNED BY SAID CONSTANT DEVICE, SAID CONSTANT FLOW DEVICE HAVING A DISCHARGE CONDUIT FOR DISCHARGING WATER SURPLUS, SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT BEING DIRECTED TOWARDS THAT CONSTANT LEVEL AND DISCHARGE DEVICE.
 9. A GLASS CONDENSER FOR USE IN DISTILLING APPARATUS OF THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TYPE COMPRSING, A STEAM TRAP, A CYLINDRICAL STEAM COLLECTING DUCT SUPPORTING SAID STEAM TRAP, SAID CYLINDRICAL STEAM COLLECTING DUCT BEING INTEGRAL WITH A SECOND DUCT PORTION BELOW SAID CYLINDRICAL STEAM COLLECTING DUCT, A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED RELATIVELY THIN WALLED SPHERE-SHAPED PORTIONS OF UNIFORM THINNESS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND DUCT PORTION, SAID SPHERE-SHAPED PORTIONS FORMING THE LOWER END OF SAID CONDENSER. 